AZ runs Lung Health Check Bus…screens Changwon residents

Utilizes AI-Based Chest X-Ray technology...Approximately 570 participate in the event

Improves community access to lung disease screenings

The ‘Lung Health Check Bus’ was operated in the ‘2025 Anti-Aging BIOHealth Expo’ that was held at the Changwon Exhibition and Convention Center (CECO) from the 6th to 8th

AstraZeneca Korea announced on the 12th that it operated a ‘Lung Health Check Bus’ equipped with AI-based chest X-ray technology at the ‘2025 Anti-Aging BIOHealth Expo (ABEXPO 2025)’, which was held at the Changwon Exhibition and Convention Center (CECO) in Gyeongsangnam-do from the 6th to the 8th, in collaboration with the Korea Tuberculosis Association and Maihub.

 

ABEXPO 2025 is Korea’s premier healthcare exhibition dedicated to advancing healthy longevity and innovation in the anti-aging industry in response to an aging society.

 

The event showcased next-generation anti-aging solutions that integrate cutting-edge technologies such as AI, biotechnology, and digital healthcare.

 

The Lung Health Check Bus was showcased as a representative example of digital healthcare applying AI to enable early screening of lung diseases, embodying the starting point of anti-aging medicine, “disease prevention through early detection.” Notably, Changwon, the host city of the exhibition, officially entered a super-aged society in June, with more than 20% of its population aged 65 or older, a demographic particularly vulnerable to cardiovascular and pneumonia-related risks.

 

AstraZeneca Korea participated in this expo with the aim of expanding healthcare access beyond the capital region to rural areas.

 

Moving forward, it plans to continue touring the nation with the Lung Health Check Bus, supporting diverse citizens to easily check their lung health.

 

During the expo, approximately 570 visitors came to the booth to experience AI-based chest X-ray screening.

 

Visitors were able to directly check their lung health status through the interpretation reports provided on-site.

 

Fifty-seven percent of the examinees were aged 50 or older.

 

The AI reports detected abnormal findings, such as lung nodules (165 individuals), in 238 people (42%).

 

Among those with abnormal findings, 11% (26 individuals) had a family history of lung cancer.

 

The results of the specialist's detailed interpretation were sent to each individual within a week.  Abnormal findings detected on chest X-rays can be associated with various lung and cardiovascular diseases, including lung cancer, making early detection and prompt management crucial.

 

Confirming uncertain lung nodules is also essential for the early diagnosis of lung cancer.

 

Lung cancer was the leading cause of cancer-related mortalities in Korea in 2023.

 

Beyond smoking, it can arise from various factors, including family history, secondhand smoke, and environmental exposures like air pollution.

 

Lung cancer often presents with minimal early symptoms or, even when the disease has progressed, may show no significant symptoms beyond coughing and sputum production.

 

At the time of diagnosis, 41.4% of patients already have distant metastases.

 

According to 5-year relative survival rate statistics from 2018-2022, the survival rate is only 12.9% when lung cancer metastasizes to other sites.

 

However, if detected at a localized stage, the survival rate significantly increases to 79.8%.

 

The current national lung cancer screening program targets high-risk individuals aged 54 to 74 with a smoking history of 30 pack-years or more, utilizing low-dose chest CT scans.

 

Additionally, AI-based chest X-rays are being regarded as an effective tool for lung cancer diagnosis due to their high detection rate of pulmonary nodules.

 

At the Changwon ABEXPO, a Lung Health Check Bus was operated as a way for non-smokers and low-risk citizens to check their lung health through AI chest X-rays.

 

Jiyoung Ahn, Executive Director of Strategy and External Cooperation at AstraZeneca Korea, stated, "AstraZeneca Korea is creating practical solutions to enhance access to early diagnosis and treatment through collaboration with domestic AI healthcare companies.

 

The Lung Health Check Bus is a prime example demonstrating how cutting-edge AI technology can directly contribute to public health.“ She added, ”We hope the AI-integrated Lung Health Check Bus will address the screening gap for lung cancer in non-smokers and serve as an opportunity to spread awareness about the importance of early screening.

 

AstraZeneca Korea will continue to contribute to raising awareness for early lung cancer diagnosis and improving the quality of public health through science-driven collaboration and practice." Min-seok Shin, President of the Korea Tuberculosis Association, stated, “We hope this campaign enables more citizens to easily check their lung health and detect diseases early.

 

The Korea Tuberculosis Association will continue its efforts to promote nationwide lung health and expand screening accessibility.” Hyeok Yang, CEO of Maihub, said, “Digital healthcare technology is a crucial means of innovating personal health management and increasing access to medical services.

 

The Lung Health Check Bus, which utilizes AI chest X-ray technology, holds significance as it demonstrated how advanced technology can contribute to actual public health improvement.

 

We will continue to strive to build a healthy society based on public benefit and innovation.”

Visitors to the ‘2025 Anti-Aging BIOHealth Expo’ held at the Changwon xhibition and Convention Center from the 6th to the 8th are receiving on-site lung health interpretation reports after having AI-equipped chest X-rays taken at the Lung Health Check Bus.

As a member of the global non-profit collaboration ‘Lung Ambition Alliance (LAA)’, AstraZeneca Korea has been continuing various initiatives to create ‘a world where lung cancer is no longer a cause of death’.

 

Last year, AstraZeneca Korea and the LAA launched the ‘Lung Cancer Zero’ campaign.

 

In collaboration with the British Chamber of Commerce in Korea and the British Embassy Seoul, they expanded the reach of lung cancer awareness activities across various sectors of society.

 

Last June, AstraZeneca Korea signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Korea Tuberculosis Association and Maihub to successfully operate the ‘Lung Health Check Bus’ campaign.

 

It is leading the way in early detection of lung diseases by operating mobile screening buses nationwide, equipped with AI chest X-ray imaging capabilities.

 

Participating in this Changwon Expo is part of the effort to create an early screening environment accessible to everyone, extending beyond the capital region to local communities.

 

AstraZeneca Korea has been expanding its collaboration with Korea’s AI and digital healthcare ecosystem.

 

Specifically, it is conducting joint research and pilot projects with various domestic startups across diverse fields, including: ▲AI image analysis (OncoSoft, AVIS), ▲Precision medicine and genomic analysis (3Billion), and ▲digital patient community and health data-based management solutions (Humanscape, Maihub), to build innovative healthcare models applicable in real clinical settings.